Google Exec Attacks Isis, Hints At New Wallet Features

During a Google Developers Live broadcast, Robin Dua, head of product management for Google Wallet, pulled no punches when asked about one of his company’s chief competitors.

When questioned about Isis, another major player in the mobile payments field, Dua characterized its implantation model as “not scalable,” and highlighted the supposed superiority of Google Wallet 2.0’s cloud-based processing method.

“There are 8,500 issuers in the U.S. and literally it will take them a lifetime to actually work through negotiations will all these issuers,” Dua said. “We think the cloud-based approach that we’ve adopted is better for the end user an also better for partners. “

Isis relies on a system of “direct provisioning” of cards from issuers to the secure element, or SIM, on a subscriber’s mobile phone. According to Dua, that process will force Isis to deal with each individual issuer in the U.S., creating an untenable timeframe.

The first iteration of Google Wallet relied on a similar system of attempting to partner with issuers, but gained only Citigroup as an ally.

The new Google Wallet, released in early August, supports all credit and debit cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, and all information is stored on Google servers – not within secure elements on individual phones.